April 30, Leadership Perspective

Today’s reading: Psalms 146-150

“Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing” - Psalm 146:3-4.

While almost all the psalms are written by leaders, the conclusion toward the end of the book is “don’t put too much hope in leaders, for they are mortal and will die, just like everyone else.” There are other lessons for followers in this passage: don’t put your leaders on a pedestal and don’t expect them to be your ‘salvation,’ for they are only human, no matter how gifted. For leaders, the lessons in this passage are: plan for your successor, for you will not live or rule forever, and don’t take yourself more seriously than you should. When the residents of Lystra tried to honor Paul and Barnabas as gods, here’s how those two leaders reacted:

But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: “Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them” (Acts 14:14-15).

Where do you need to adjust your thinking and expectations, whether you are a leader, follower or both?